Zhang Lin wins the Men's 400m Freestyle silver medal with a time of 3:42.44 on August 10. It was the first medal won by the Chinese swimming team in the Beijing Olympics.[Du Yang/Chinanews.com]

An online poll carried out by the Sina.com.cn website on August 10 for China Youth Daily showed that the Chinese public is much more understanding of Olympic failure than many had believed.

Of the 22,316 people who took part in the poll, 54 percent said they "could accept" China's failure to win a medal in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Contest, in which veteran shooter Du Li was expected to take gold. 24.7 percent "felt disappointed but accepted the result". Only 2.5 percent said they could not accept the result, while 18.6 percent said they did not care.

People were very happy about the surprise silver medal won by Zhang Lin in the Men's 400m Freestyle swim. 78.9 percent said the silver medal meant just as much as gold. Only 12.1 percent said they were disappointed Zhang did not achieve gold.

61.8 percent give Zhang Lin full credit for the silver medal, but 39.4 percent attributed it to "advanced training techniques imported from abroad."

Regarding the failure of Du Li to win a medal, 67.5 percent thought "this is just the way things go in competitions"; 43.9 percent said she tried her best, and only 6.3 percent attached any blame to her.

Most people showed understanding and sympathy regarding the pressure athletes are under. 57 percent said pressure caused by the public's expectations contributed to Du Li’s failure, while 14.1 percent said competing on home soil was, in this case, a disadvantage.

The poll showed Du Li is still popular. 41.5 percent said they would be rooting for her in the Women's 50m Rifle contest on August 14.

(China.org.cn by Wu Huanshu, August 11, 2008)